"...His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child, I can no longer fear;
With confidence I now draw nigh, and 'Father, Abba, Father,' cry…" Arise, My Soul Arise

Friday, March 1, 2013

{Five Fact Friday} Gardening, Soup, and Acceptance

This week, on my 57th birthday, I decided to accept myself -- gray hair, wrinkles, errors and all! (This does not mean I will not continue to color the hair and smear the skin with coconut oil, however.)

Number one is not as easy as it sounds. It is hard to change a bad habit, so every time I hear myself whispering "You idiot!" I am replacing it with: "Becky, I accept you." (It is my intention to succeed.)

Planning a vegetable garden, with all of its deadlines, possibilities, and snafus -- takes courage, curiosity, science, determination, and faith. It also helps to have good information handy. In the next few weeks, I'll be setting plants and seeds in my first "compost sandwich," as instructed by Chris McLaughlin, in her book Vertical Vegetable Gardening.

It is almost time to say goodbye to some great soups and hello to fresh greens and iced tea.

Dogs can read faces. Mine will sneak down the hall and hide under the dresser if I even think about giving her a bath. Today is bath day.

23 comments:

I look in the mirror and gently shake my head at what has happened to me in just seven years-talk about going down hill fast.Retiring didn't help but so grateful that I did-the broken leg took alot out of me which I will never get back as hard as I try.But I have to stop and think-ok you are going on 66 years old (yikes,where has the time gone)and you are where you are supposed to be so look in that mirror and remember that you have earned those wrinkles (but why so many),the gray hair (that is hidden under hair color)and a few other quirks (that only a miracle could help).I thank God for helping me this far in life and for what I have.Becky,you are so right about accepting ourselves the way we are,God has no problems with us.Sandra Miller

You will succeed - l did! Now l get an immediate guilty feeling if l run myself down. By the way, you don't look 57! :-). My mums cat has insulin twice a day and reads her body language when she gets up to get it for him. He hides under the couch where she can't reach him. Only comes out if she puts the after-injection-fishtreat on the table :-). Hope your weekend is a blessed one, Pam :-)

I am visiting from 5 random thoughts and you have a lovely blog...I too am a daughter of the King so we have something in common along side the fact that I am struggling to accept my ageing body....thanks for the encouragement....

what is tough for me is my mother went all white/grey haired & suddenly i realize cramp i am getting older. now i feel it setting in because i'm getting grey hairs too. nuts!! do what makes you feel young & great. color or no color. whatever is great!! i know my mom feels her hair is much healthier, feels great & is more easy to take of. ... i have to accept that. ( :

Fellow Daughter - at 53 I've learned that I've earned every wrinkle, every gray hair & every extra inch on my body. Remembering that I am loved by God for who I am & that all I need to be is His child & live my life so that it is pleasing to Him is what helps me accept me....for me!

I think it's very wise that we can accept ourselves as we are- I wish it didn't take so long! I'm 50 and there has been a definite change, but what else to do but embrace it? I laughed that your dog knows it's bath day. They are too smart for their own good!Thanks so much for coming by and commenting. I am so behind, but trying to catch up. I'm in agreement about the coconut oil. My sensitive skin loves it.Happy Belated Birthday, Youngster!

I am so glad I found you! At my church they did a volunteer luncheon with this as the theme...A Daughter of the King! It was so precious...everybody loved it. I am around your age and can relate to so many of the things you mentioned...sigh! happy resurrection day to YOU!

To Subscribe by Email :

Precious Readers

My Father's Words

"Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud,
it is not rude,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices in the truth.
It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres."
Love never fails

Father's Love Letter

An Intimate Message from God to You:

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad.... ...Almighty God

PERMISSION TO COPY:The printed version of Father's Love Letter can be copied and used for free distribution providing the following copyright information is displayed... 'Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications Copyright 1999-2008 http://www.fathersloveletter.com/

If you would like to look up the verses...copy and paste to the search bar on this site: Bible Gateway

Find Grateful Hearts Here

My Garden Blog

Planted Here Too

My favorite Online Magazine is Free

Everything Easy

Click the photo to find all my posts on this topic.

But look at the difference! One man was a selfish, megalomaniac imposing his ideas and ideals on people; while the other gave up his right to rule over us and instead paid with his life for every selfish act that anyone who ever lived has done or will do. more

Written across the pages of time, life is always transforming itself. From season to season, it renews as it ages, grows as it replicates, lives as it dies. And, like its Creator, it stays essentially the same. more

A home manager is a valuable person, for she enables others to go beyond, knowing they have somewhere to return and rest their weary heads and hearts. more

The mantra for 2013 reflects my desire to become more aware of what lies behind my choices. I plan to study my intent and I intend to pay close attention to how it lines up with my desire to be time-wise and purpose-wise. more

We are all aging. And in the process we are all contributing our uniqueness to the people around us. Every day we are offered the opportunity to surrender ourselves to life, to use the stuff of life to grow, to offer our lives to the living. more

Word Up!

“...but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:24

My Prayer for You

"Father, I ask you to speak to the heart, mind and spirit of each person reading these words. Please protect them from any incorrect thoughts that I may share. Please bless their lives with the knowledge of your love for them, your faultless, enduring, complete love."